Saturday Fulham Stuff - 15/08/26...

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Matchday Preview: Stuttgart

For the fourth year in a row, Fulham's pre-season campaign rounds off with a test against German opposition. They are fixtures we have historically done well in, beating Hoffenheim in consecutive years, before a narrow 1-0 win over Frankfurt 12 months ago. Stuttgart will no doubt present a stern test, having secured Champions League football with a fourth place Bundesliga finish last season.

Tickets

Tickets are still available for this fixture via fulhamfc.com/tickets, priced at £10 for juniors and £20 for adults.

Hospitality

Experience award-winning hospitality in The Riverside, with limited availability remaining. Supporters can browse all experiences here.

Drinks offers

Early Bird offers are available pre-match (up until 3pm) including £5 pints and selected house wines, as well as £2 soft drinks. Join us post-match on The Riverside as drink offers continue until one-hour post-match.

Fulham Pier

Fulham Pier is open on Saturday pre & post-match for fans to enjoy. Soak up the warm weather after the match, with a live DJ playing until 10pm.

Stadium & Matchday Policy updates

With the start of the 2026/27 season inching ever closer, we want to update supporters on some changes that have happened over the summer, and some policy refreshers so that you are prepared for another exciting season of action at Fulham Football Club, including the bag policy.

Download your match pass

We'd like to remind all supporters to download their digital match pass prior to arriving to Craven Cottage for this weekend's pre-season friendly. All 2026/27 Season Ticket Holders are reminded that they must download their match pass for Fulham FC v VfB Stuttgart separately to their season pass. Season passes are not valid for entry to the stadium for this fixture. Read our helpful digital ticketing guides here.

Matchday programme

Pick up your official matchday programme at Craven Cottage this Saturday. Álvaro Arbeloa pens his first programme notes since arriving as Head Coach, while skipper Tom Cairney and Fulham legend Robert Wilson also share their thoughts.

We catch up with ex-Whites defender Sascha Riether, who reflects on his eventful two-year spell in SW6, former Fulham photographer Ken Coton delves into his extensive archive and Martin Plumb looks back at some previous meetings with German opposition.

As well as this, we meet the 12 Academy prospects who signed scholarship agreements ahead of the 2026/27 campaign and there's everything you need to know about the visitors to the Cottage.

The programme will be on sale from sellers around Craven Cottage on Saturday, priced £3.50, and is also available to purchase online from Press Box Publishing.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/august/14/matchday-preview-stuttgart/

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Bourussia Mönchengladbach fullback Joe Scally draws interest from Fulham and Bournemouth
Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Joe Scally is attracting interest from several clubs as the Bundesliga side continue working to reduce and reshape Eugen Polanski's squad. According to Sky Germany's Marlon Irlbacher, Premier League clubs Fulham and Bournemouth are monitoring the 23-year-old United States international. Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille have also expressed interest.

Initial discussions concerning a potential transfer are already underway, although no specific club presently appears to have moved into pole position. Scally himself is reportedly open to leaving Borussia-Park after five-and-a-half years with Gladbach. Get German Football News highlighted Scally's precarious position in this week's Borussia Mönchengladbach tactical preview.

New arrival Yukhym Konoplya effectively pushed the American out of head coach Eugen Polanski's projected plans. Even Konoplya's preseason ligament injury has seemingly not fundamentally changed that assessment. As soon as Konoplya incurred injury, the Gladbach front office acquired Japanese right back Daiki Hashioka to fill his role.

Scally's Gladbach career featured ups and downs
After more than five years in German football, the American has accumulated substantial Bundesliga experience while also becoming a regular United States international. A potential departure would bring a mixed Gladbach career towards its conclusion.

Scally joined the club from New York City FC as a teenager and quickly demonstrated that he could compete at Bundesliga level. His versatility enabled him to work at right-back, left-back and later as a wing-back. Regular opportunities nevertheless did not always translate into permanent security.

Scally repeatedly emerged as a player capable of excellent individual performances without completely cementing himself as the undisputed first choice. At his best, the Long Island native supplied aggressive forward carries, reliable defensive work and considerable physical endurance. During the 2022/23 campaign, particularly strong performances on the right side earned him some of the highest marks among the American Bundesliga contingent.

His role nevertheless fluctuated. Daniel Farke eventually returned to veteran Stefan Lainer during parts of the 2022/23 Rückrunde, while Gerardo Seoane later experimented with Scally in several different defensive configurations.

Scally often appeared most comfortable as a conventional right-back. When moved back to that position during the 2023/24 season, his ability to progress possession along the flank and support Gladbach's attacking structure remained evident. The broader pattern, however, persisted: Scally was regularly useful and sometimes excellent, but rarely untouchable.

Joe Scally and Nico Elvedi both attract Premier League interest
Scally is not the only long-serving Gladbach defender whose future has suddenly become uncertain. Get German Football News reported on Thursday that Nico Elvedi has reached a basic agreement with Leeds United. Leeds have yet to submit a formal offer to Borussia, but the Swiss international is reportedly prepared to move to the Premier League if the clubs can agree terms.

Scally's USMNT teammate has already departed
Gladbach have already moved on from Giovanni Reyna after only one season at Borussia-Park. Reyna transferred to Racing Strasbourg last week, with Schröder making clear that the club wanted to reduce the size of the squad. Scally could now be the next USMNT professional headed for the exits.



https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2026/joe-scally-premier-league/

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How many points do Fulham need in our first five games?
The Arbeloa era faces a tricky start...

Twelve months is a hell of a long time in football.

As Fulham prepares to start the 2026-27 season, things couldn't feel more different to last summer: our 25-26 season previews were filled with words like "solid", "stable", "steady" and "deja vu". We fretted about a total absence of transfer business, and everyone predicted that we would finish mid-table. It was an easy season to forecast.

It's impossible to over-stress what an anomaly Marco Silva's reign was when you compare it to other clubs in the Premier League and Championship.

Exclude the super clubs challenging for titles, whose clout and cash vastly dwarves Fulham's, and it's hard to find a mid-table team who has built a dynasty around their manager. Compare Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, who were promoted with us - from July 2021 to May 2026, we had one permanent manager. Between them, they've had nine.

Silva's exit from Fulham was a tad ugly, but his impact was undeniable: when he took on the role in 2021, Fulham was a yo-yo club, and we're about to enter our fifth straight season in the Premier League. All this in a climate where it's harder to stay up than ever. And in a world where a club's identity is built more around their manager than anything else (certainly more than players and owners), my main feeling entering this season isn't optimistic or pessimistic, but simply uncertain.

Uncertainty is a weird emotion to start the season with, especially in a world where football media is full of hot takes and predictions. I've heard the opinions from every corner of the Fulham stable, from wild optimism to doom and gloom. We could easily finish anywhere between 19th and maybe sixth.

I land somewhere quite cautious. I was concerned about Silva's departure, especially as it seemed the owners expected him to stay. Arbeloa is an unknown prospect, and his lack of senior coaching experience does worry me. It's extremely exciting that the manager is (finally) being backed in the transfer market - Gonzalo García's arrival at the Cottage is certainly a statement.

We're doing good business, and it's early in the window, by Fulham's standards at least. Plus, we've got Kevin and Bobb entering their second seasons at the club - they're both young, exciting players with a point to prove. It could go horribly wrong, of course - if Arbeloa is terribly out of his depth, and is sacked in the autumn, we have a squad that's full of players bought for him.

In previous seasons, I've poured over the table in pre-season, tallying up which games we need to win, which games we can afford to draw, and which games we can lose without too much concern. For example, a bottom-half team at home is a must-win (your Ipswiches, your Nottingham Forests, and in the last two seasons, your Tottenham Hotspurs). Bournemouth at home - you probably need at least a point there. City away - not essential for your survival.

Over the past few seasons, I've been able to discard this system flippantly. Fulham's unpredictability changes things, and the restructuring of the calendar, with five games before the extended international break, will provide more of an opportunity for reflection. But how many points will we need to have by 21 September to breathe easy? Well...

Chelsea (H)
Unfortunately, I think Chelsea are going to have a good season. Xabi Alonso is clearly a coup - one that I didn't see coming.

I think the story of the Premier League this season is going to be centred around fatigue, with the elite clubs playing more minutes and games than ever - as unsexy as that sounds. There are nine teams in Europe, and Chelsea have 'lucked out' by not being one of them. They've benefitted from playing badly enough in their last few games to avoid even Conference League football - which fans didn't want anyway!

First game of the season and a derby: anything can happen. Chelsea's huge squad is clearly a problem. Obviously this game means more than just its contribution towards Fulham's survival, but we don't need this one for Premier League safety.

Sunderland (A)
I can't be the only one who's annoyed that we play Sunderland before they've had a chance to wear out their overstretched squad with European football. It's the opening game of the season at the Stadium of Light, but we did win there last term. We probably do need a point here, especially if we don't win on opening day.

Crystal Palace (H)
Can the third game of a season be a 'must win'? Palace are in a similar boat to us this season, with a new manager replacing an established club legend. Tipping Palace and Fulham to be in trouble is a similar kind of take: there is so much uncertainty swirling around both our clubs. Annoyingly, we face them before they can be stretched by their Europa League fixtures.

Fulham haven't beaten Palace at Craven Cottage since 2005, but we might have to do it now. This is easily our most winnable game of our opening five fixtures.

Liverpool (A)
Terrible football takes amnesty here: I think Liverpool are going to win the league this season. We've had some thrillers at Anfield over the years, and I back this to be another high-scoring affair, but I'm not too worried if we don't come away with anything.

Manchester United (H)
We haven't beat Manchester United at Craven Cottage since 2009, but I think this might be a good opportunity. They played very few games last season, and Carrick only managed to turn around the ship when the rest of the league was knackered. After an inconsistent spell at Middlesbrough, Carrick is yet to prove himself at the top level in my eyes, and it could be choppy waters ahead.

What does that mean for us? It'd be great to take a point here - and I think United will have the kind of season that makes that look like a gettable result.

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I make that five points from our opening five games to keep us on track to steer us towards survival. It shakes out over the whole season, really: one point per game gets you to 38 points which is usually enough to stay up.

It goes without saying: we're all dreaming bigger than this. I hope we'll be talking about what's possible after 10 points from our opening five games, or maybe... even more.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/how-many-points-do-fulham-need-in

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Wigan Athletic set to complete loan swoop for Fulham midfielder
Luke Harris is once again poised for a loan move this summer, with Wigan Athletic set to tie up a deal for the attacking midfielder.

Wigan Athletic are set to seal a loan move for Fulham midfielder Luke Harris over the weekend, according to Pete O'Rourke.
Wigan Athletic are set to seal another Premier League loan swoop, with Luke Harris poised to arrive from Fulham. Should they seal the move, he may be available for the Latics' EFL Trophy fixture against Aston Villa U21s on Tuesday, or their home tie against Leyton Orient the following weekend.

The Latics have lost some creativity in their side this summer. Harrison Bettoni has departed, leaving a void to fill in attacking midfield.

Harris, 21, has had his fair share of EFL loans. He has played with the likes of Exeter City and Wycombe Wanderers in previous seasons, having featured in a small number of Premier League games for Fulham.

Harris' contract with Fulham runs out next summer, so this loan move feels crucial in deciding where the youngster will be playing his football in the coming years.

Luke Harris will be determined to impress in latest EFL loan with Wigan Athletic
Although he is still 21, in comparison to other younger Premier League players, Harris boasts a wealth of EFL experience ahead of his Wigan Athletic move.

His first main loan move came in the 2023/24 season, when he joined Exeter City. The Grecians and Fulham had built a connection through Jay Stansfield's successful time at St. James' Park.

The following season, Harris enjoyed success as a Birmingham City man when they finished top of League One. Last season though, he started in the Championship with Oxford United, but switched to Wycombe Wanderers after a limited impact in the top flight.

Harris, like fellow Fulham youngster and Fleetwood Town target Aaron Loupalo-Bi, has not managed to conjure up regular goals or assists in his loans. He has shown flashes of skill, but his goal contributions have been somewhat lacking.

He is a youngster held in high regard though, and has been involved in the Wales setup. It will be hoped his spell with the Latics can see him show his potential.

The Verdict: Luke Harris' loan move is key for both him and Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic finished 16th in League One last season. With Harris coming to fill the void in attacking midfield, he will be hoping to help them push up the table under Gary Caldwell.

Bettoni featured often in the attacking midfield role last season and provided a goalscoring threat, emerging as a real prospect. However, he was unable to register an assist, so Harris could provide a more creative source.

Although there was some breathing room between the Latics and the relegation zone last season, there is a clear desire to kick on.

With Harris' contract running out at Fulham in 2027, he needs to impress this season to remain in the Cottagers' plans. If not, a permanent move to the EFL could await next summer.



https://the72.co.uk/2026/08/14/wigan-athletic-sign-fulham-luke-harris/

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Olympique Marseille ready to rival Fulham and Bournemouth for Scally
Olympique Marseille have reportedly joined Fulham and Bournemouth in the race to sign wantaway Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Joe Scally.

Olympique Marseille are interested in Borussia Mönchengladbach and United States defender Joe Scally, according to Sky Germany.

Fulham and Bournemouth have also been linked with a move for the 23-year-old, who is widely expected to leave Borussia-Park one year before his deal expires.

Gladbach are said to be demanding a transfer fee of around €8 million for Scally.

Scally has reportedly been told that he would likely spend more time on the bench or in the stands should he remain at the club.



https://bulinews.com/olympique-marseille-ready-rival-fulham-and-bournemouth-for-scally

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Fulham, Newcastle United express interest in Oli Devlin
Fulham and Newcastle United have joined a growing group of Premier League clubs monitoring highly-rated Coleraine youngster Oli Devlin.

According to Football Insider, Fulham and Newcastle United have registered their interest in the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from Northern Irish football in recent years.

Coleraine are already aware of the attention surrounding Devlin and are bracing themselves for approaches as clubs assess whether to move before the transfer window closes.

Premier League clubs tracking Devlin
Devlin has made rapid progress into senior football and is beginning to attract significant attention from England. The teenager made eight appearances in all competitions last season, contributing one goal and two assists despite his limited exposure at first-team level.

Those performances have been enough to convince scouts that Devlin possesses the technical ability and long-term potential required to make the step into a Premier League academy environment. Newcastle United and Fulham are both understood to be particularly keen, although they are not alone in tracking his progress.

Several other Premier League sides are also believed to be considering moves, meaning Coleraine could soon find themselves at the centre of a competitive race for one of their brightest young talents.

Newcastle and Fulham offer development pathways
A move to either Newcastle United or Fulham would likely see Devlin initially join an Under-18 or Under-21 setup rather than immediately enter the senior squad. That would provide him with the opportunity to train and compete alongside elite players in his age group while continuing his development in a more demanding environment.

For Newcastle, the interest fits with their recent focus on recruiting high-upside young players before their values rise considerably. Fulham have also increasingly looked towards younger talent as part of their recruitment strategy, making Devlin a natural fit for their long-term plans.

Devlin's numbers are modest, but that is hardly surprising given he has only just begun his senior career. What matters more is that multiple Premier League clubs have already seen enough to make serious checks on his availability.

At 18, the next move should be about development rather than simply joining the biggest possible club. If Newcastle or Fulham can present Devlin with a clear pathway through their academy and towards senior football, either destination could represent an important step forward in his career.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/08/14/fulham-newcastle-united-express-interest-in-oli-devlin/

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Nottingham Forest set to sign Steven Benda
Nottingham Forest are closing in on signing former Fulham goalkeeper Steven Benda as Oliver Glasner continues reshaping his squad ahead of the new Premier League season.

The 27-year-old is available for a free transfer following the expiry of his Fulham contract at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. As things stahd, Benda has agreed terms with Nottingham Forest and is expected to undergo a medical on Friday before completing the move.

According to Sky Sports, the German goalkeeper is being recruited primarily to replace Angus Gunn and is expected to operate as Forest's third-choice option, with Matz Sels remaining established as the club's number one. If everything proceeds as planned, Benda will become Nottingham Forest's fourth first-team addition of the summer.

Forest add experienced goalkeeping cover
Benda arrives with considerable experience in English football despite never establishing himself as a Premier League regular at Fulham. He initially joined Swansea City in 2017 before gaining his first significant senior experience during a loan spell with Swindon Town. Benda helped Swindon win the League Two title during the 2019/20 campaign before returning to Swansea.

fter initially operating as a backup, he later spent time on loan with Peterborough United before becoming Swansea's first-choice goalkeeper during the 2022/23 season. He made 23 appearances before a knee injury prematurely ended his campaign. Fulham subsequently signed Benda in 2023, although opportunities were limited during his time at Craven Cottage. He spent periods of last season on loan with Millwall and Feyenoord, making 12 combined appearances.

Forest still have transfer business to complete
Benda's impending arrival addresses Forest's need for additional depth between the posts, but their recruitment work is far from finished. The club are continuing to assess options at centre-forward and could also add a new full-back or wing-back before the transfer window closes.

A central midfielder remains another priority for Glasner as Forest look to strengthen a squad that finished in the bottom half of the Premier League last season. They have recently lost the race to sign Tijjani Reijnders, who will soon join Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah.

Benda may not be the headline signing Forest supporters are waiting for, but this looks like sensible squad management. As a free agent with experience across several levels of English football, the 27-year-old provides relatively low-cost goalkeeping depth without consuming a significant portion of Forest's transfer budget.

The more consequential business will come elsewhere. With Forest still targeting a midfielder, attacking reinforcement and potentially another wide defensive option, Benda's arrival should allow the club to concentrate its resources on positions where immediate first-team improvement is required.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/08/14/nottingham-forest-set-to-sign-steven-benda/

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Carabao Cup Tickets: AFC Wimbledon
Tickets for Fulham's Carabao Cup Round Two tie against AFC Wimbledon will go on sale from Saturday!

Fulham's 2026/27 Carabao Cup campaign will commence with a Round Two tie on Thursday 27th August, kick-off 8pm.

Tickets for the tie will go on sale to 2026/27 Season Ticket Holders from 10:30am on Saturday 15th August. 2026/27 Members will be able to purchase tickets from 9:30am on Tuesday 18th August, before tickets go on General Sale from 9:30am on Thursday 20th August.

Prices

PRICING	STAND
Price Class	Johnny Haynes & Hammersmith End	The Riverside
Adult	£20	£25
65 & over	£15	£20
18-21	£15	£20
17 & Under	£5	£5

Please note the Putney End will be allocated to Away fans only, therefore there will be no Home tickets sold in the Putney End for this fixture.

Seats in the Hammersmith End, Johnny Haynes and Riverside Stands will be sold from the central areas out. As a result, and alongside the Putney End being unavailable to Fulham fans, there will be no Season Ticket Holder seat reservations for this particular match. All 2026/27 Season Ticket Holders will have the ability to purchase from 10:30am on Saturday 15th August.

All supporters will be able to secure up to four tickets per person for this fixture. More information regarding on sale dates and pricing can be found here.

Tickets can be secured from Saturday online at fulhamfc.com/tickets, from the Fulham FC Ticket Office in person (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4:30pm & Sat 15th Aug 10:30am-4pm) or by calling 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-5pm & Sat 15th Aug 10:30am-3pm).

HOSPITALITY

Season Ticket Holders can experience 20% off Hospitality in The Riverside for this fixture with an exclusive offer.

With prices starting from as low as £69+VAT, now is the perfect time to sample the finest Hospitality in football, with prime-position seating to soak up all the action.

Season Ticket Holders will be emailed a code to apply when checking out at hospitality.fulhamfc.com after selecting their preferred experience.

All supporters can enjoy Hospitality for this fixture with prices starting from £89+VAT.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/august/14/afc-wimbledon-tickets/

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Mbappé Praises Mourinho: A Subtle Message to Álvaro Arbeloa?
Real Madrid is coming off a season to forget, but Kylian Mbappé has already turned the page. The French star sees José Mourinho as a key figure in helping Los Blancos return to the spotlight and start winning trophies again.

Real Madrid is coming off a season to forget, but Kylian Mbappé has already turned the page. The French star sees José Mourinho as a key figure in helping Los Blancos return to the spotlight and start winning trophies again.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV, Mbappé particularly emphasized that Mourinho "knows how to win" and has a clear direction for the team. His comments were clearly positive about his new manager, but they also raise a question: were they a subtle message to Álvaro Arbeloa?

Mbappé highlights José Mourinho's winning experience
Mbappé revealed that he has had several conversations with Mourinho and emphasized the confidence that an experienced, proven winner can give the players.

"We talked a lot during the World Cup and over the last few days here. It's very positive to have a coach like him, who knows how to win and knows how to show us the path to winning. As a player, the players are delighted to have a coach who knows where he's going. I think it's positive for us," Mbappé said.

The Frenchman did not mention Arbeloa in his comments, meaning any comparison remains a matter of interpretation.

Mbappé promises trophies for Real Madrid
The French forward also expressed confidence that Real Madrid will return to winning silverware this season, highlighting the hunger he sees within the squad.

"I think we have to win, and this year we're going to win trophies. I'm sure we're going to win trophies again. That's what we want, and it's going to happen because I feel that the team is hungry. We're going to stay focused all year to bring joy to the Madrid fans. I don't think there's anything more important than winning trophies with the team and feeling the joy of the supporters," he said

Mbappé reflects on why he joined Real Madrid
Mbappé also reflected on his decision to join Real Madrid, explaining that wearing the famous white shirt remains a dream while stressing that playing for the club comes with one major obligation: winning.

"It was a dream to come here and it's still a dream to be here every day and have this opportunity. I'm someone who knows how to enjoy the present, being here, and I know how lucky I am to be here, but now we have to win. You can be anywhere, but at Real Madrid you have to win trophies, you have to win things, and that's why I'm here. As I've already said, we're going to win trophies this year."



https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/la-liga/articles/mbapp%C3%A9-praises-mourinho-a-subtle-message-to-%C3%A1lvaro-arbeloa-2026-08-14

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Loupalo-Bi joins Fleetwood on loan from Fulham
Fleetwood Town have signed Fulham forward Aaron Loupalo-Bi on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old had previous loan spells with Dagenham & Redbridge and Walsall.

Loupalo-Bi made 16 League Two appearances for the Saddlers after joining them in the January transfer window.

He also featured regularly for Fulham's Under-21s last season, representing the club in the EFL Trophy, and has won three England Under-18 caps.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cpw9enng0yro